Robert Griffin: Year off 'helped me become a smarter player'

New Baltimore Ravens quarterback Robert Griffin believes he's a new player after spending the 2017 NFL season out of the league.

Speaking at an introductory press conference Wednesday, Griffin claimed he dedicated much of his time off to studying film and analyzing offenses.

"(The time off) helped me become a smarter player," he said, via ESPN's Jamison Hensley. "I tried to use that experience to grow. I feel like I have grown from that and I look forward to being able to show it."

Griffin signed a one-year contract with Baltimore last week. His last regular-season start - a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers as a member of the Cleveland Browns - came in Week 16 of the 2016 season. The Browns released him in March of 2017.

"I'm not relying on what I did in the past," Griffin said. "I want to show (the Ravens) the player that I am and the player I can be moving forward. It's time to let that stuff go and move forward as a new player, a better player, a grown player."

He's excited for the opportunity to secure an NFL roster spot once again, despite being the Ravens' clear backup behind Joe Flacco.

"I knew coming into this situation that this is Joe's team," he said. "I'm excited about the opportunity to learn from him. I'm here to compete and get better every single day. I think they realize that I'm ready for the opportunity and I'm ready for this role."